Rebuilt shoe last and method of making the same



June 23, 1936. w. REINHARD-T 2,045,309

REBUILT SHOE LAST AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Nov. 24, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheefil il'zvelfoz LouisWlZeinkardl fly 19270121511 June 3 L. w. REINHARDT 2,045,309

REBUILT SHOE LAST AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed'Nov. 24, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 haven/101' lozzwilffleinlzardf Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED STATES REBUILT snoE LA MAKING PATENT OFFECE' ST AND METHOD OF THE SAME Application November 24, 1933, Serial No. 699,570

3 Claims.

In the remodeling of shoe lasts or like wooden foot forms certain requirements have developed to meet current practices.

It has been the ancient practice probably since the beginning of last making or that of wooden foot or hand forms, to repair or remodel by splicing, inlaying or part replacement, such portion or area as has been worn, broken or otherwise of needed repair of substitution. I do not claim anything of this sort.

Modern lasts under present conditions have become an increasing item of expense to shoe manufacturers. Their potential rehabilitation value is accordingly increased.

Repair of remodeling or part replacement being necessary for economic reasons, I have developed certain factors which make the practical factory service for such lasts convenient and economical. wood and that can be spared and can so be returned to smaller shapes. In remaking most lasts it is necessary in course of factory practice to add a new block or wedges furnishing additional material from which remodeling may be done.

The changes in old lasts usually desired are in the'fore or toe part. The heel part and particularly the hinge area of jointed lasts, are important to save as they involve the basic cost and structural investment of the shoe manufacturer.

My concept is simply that of providing thebest and most economical basis of re-styling or remodeling an old last to make it serve longer.

In jointed lasts it has been common practice since their advent to replace the fore part, i. e. to detach the linked fore part and put on another. In single piece lasts or in others it has been old to splice, split, wedge or otherwise cabinet make the old wooden article into the new style or type or form desired.

My improvements and the advantages that follow will be set forth in the specification with reference to the accompanying drawings in which characteristic features are illustrated.

Fig. 1 indicates in side elevation a last or one of a number of lasts to be replaced or re-made and with plane of cut indicated.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same with the cut indicated.

Fig. 3 shows such a last with the undesired toe part sawed off.

Fig. 4 shows a toe part block with indicated angular cut.

Fig. 5 is a face view of the angular cut of the 55 toe block with keyhole connection formed in it.

Some lasts of larger size have excess Fig. 6 shows the old heel and joint parts united ready for turning the new toe block.

Fig. 7 shows the re-made last.

Fig. 8 a detail of my headed fastener, and

Fig. 9 shows a modified form of waist out.

Referring to Fig. 1, I have indicated a last of hinged type comprising a heel part I, a fore part 2, and an intermediate knucklebearing 3, and a connecting link 4 held by transverse pins 5 and heel plate 6 and the usual jack socket 1.

The broken line .r-a: (Figs. 1 and 2) indicates a saw out plane passing throughthe last at substantially the waist line. In most cases it will start on the sole near the joint between the fore and heel parts (Fig. 2). and forwardly emerging somewhere at the instep forward of and below the cone.

As the waist line is that of the smallest measure back of the toe portion, there will be removed by such a cut all of the larger dimensioned parts and the plane of attachment beyond which the turning of the new fore part block does not have to go will be well below the new contours established by the cutters. Technically, the waist line is the minimum measure around the last and is commonly determined by looping a measure about the last from the base of the instep or cone through the hollow of the arch on the sole and slipping the measure back and forth until a minimum reading is obtained. The precise loca- 17 tion of the waist line, of course, will vary according to the style of the last.

In a broader sense, I use the term waist line to define the above described zone through which cuts can be made in accordance with my invention. The term waist line will, therefore, be understood to refer broadly speaking to a zone extending around the last near the base of the instep and through the hollow arch on the last bottom.

In these reconstructions, thepractical problem has to be met by the factory man. My concept is simple. It is that of observing the minimum contour of the waist line plane. It is usually necessary to return these lasts at larger or broader contours or as is more easy, to remove some prominent excressions as in the past high box toe or other bulging parts.

Such freak lasts are very easy to handle. Also, it is simple to turn down an old over-size form. Such jobs do not present any problem. The trouble is to re-make a good last where the new style imposes a different shoe form or swing or spring of the fore part of such a last. This It should pass upwardly usually starts, as I analyze it, at about the ball of the foot and forward toe portion.

I therefore take as a basis of my analysis that angular base line running across the forward joint of the metatarsal at the forward base of the double arch. This is a sole plane of foot contact. Its over-regions are orthopedically important. I therefore, for orthopedic and more practical manufacturing reasons, place my cut'as indicated at the secant line through the waist.

My secant juncture plane as indicated in 'Fig. 1 is of minimum area as :compared with other lines of out. However, it is important as to-its ability to carry stresses and strains in lasting and leveling.

In carrying out my invention I cut thelaststo be re-made on their waist line plane as before described, leaving the heel part, knuckle and rear part of the fore part with its linkage intact.

I prepare new fore part blocks l o'f'ample size to allow easy centering and turning of the new wood. For convenience, these blocks are usually first cut in oblong form and squared up carefully to permit accurate gaging and clamping. These I saw at the predetermined angle-of-the cut off of the old last so as to obtain an exactly registering angular face butvone of substantially larger area. This is of advantage in facilitating assembly as before suggested as :it is not necessary as in other methods to attach :the new block in any exact axial alignmentwith 'the old last part. In these angular faces of the new blocks ID I cut a keyhole slot 8 having a. round entry 8 I first rout out the slot 8 and then go in with a flat .disc cutter to form the entry 8 then run it along the slot 8 to get an undercut as indicated in Fig. 5.

Centrally of the angular face on the remains of the old last fore part I set a headed stud Shaving a threaded shank 9 This can be screwed firmly in the face and adjusted to just the right clearance to give a tight sliding fit in the slot 8.

When this adjustment is made the cut faces which are generally transverse of the grain are glued up and the block Ill-assembled on the old last parts. After the glue is set thoroughly the lasts may be centered and the new block turned to the new desired model.

In centering Itake the usual heel center point half way up the back heel line and a toe center such as to give the desired general posture and have plenty of wood to give the widest contours desired. By the use of blocks ll] of ample size, I avoid as before described,.any necessity of fussy exact toe centering when the rest of the last is in desired condition which in other methods often goes .wrong and spoils the work.

Procedure may be somewhat varied. The toe blocks may be of different shapes or materials than that shown. Also, the fastening may be varied although that shown is very convenient and effective and with the coacting angular, faces gives a very strong joint so that the re-made lasts stand up under the heavy strains of shoemaking.

In posturing the assembled old last and toe block I am able to work from a three point support at the heel plate 6 holding the back of the heel against a V-shaped rear support. This gives what is really a four point pyramidal gaging which positions the assembly while the toe center is pricked. This part of my method may also be varied, but is very simple and advantageous and combines with my concept of the large toe block.

The plane 'of severance at the waist of the last may as indicated in Fig. 9 be other than 10 on a single plane. For example, the last may be severed on its waist line by a V-shaped cut. Two erect converging kerfs are sawed in one from each side of the last at the waist line on the indicated planes YY. The severed fore part is replaced by a new block having a corresponding V-cut and the parts assembled and turned as previously indicated.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. As an improvement'in-the art of re-making used jointed lasts by the substitution .of a new fore part portion, that ,method which consists in severing the undesirable portion of the fore part-on a secant plane at substantially the waist line of the old last beginning at substantially the joint line of the underinstep and extending upwardly and forwardly in advance of the cone, and in then forming a substitute fore part block having a like inclined surface, and in attaching the newfore pa-rt block to the old last heel and joint portion left by the cutting with the inclined faces in abutting relation, and in turning the fore part to any desired shape to give the re-made last thedesired model.

2. As an improvement in the art of rc-rrvki used jointed lasts bythesubstitution of anew fore part portion, that method which consists in severing the undesirable portion of the fore part on a secant plane at substantially the waist line of the old last beginning. at substantially the joint line-of the underinstep and extending upwardly and forwardlyin advance of thecone, and in then forming a substitute fore part block having a like inclined surface, and in mechanically interen- .15 gaging the new fore part block to the old last heel and joint portion .leftbythe cutting with the inclined faces in abutting relation, and in turning the fore part to any desired shape to give the re-made last the desired model. 5

3. Aremadeshoe last consisting of a used rear parthaving an inclined forwardlyprojecting face at the waistline of the last, and a new fore part having a cooperative rearwardly projecting downwardly inclined face, one of said faces having an undercut keyhole slot therein and disposed parallel to said surface, and a flat headed screw stud set in the other face and having its head parallel to its adjacent surface and slidably engaged in said .slot to form a blind mechanical to bond, said faces being cementitiously united to hold said surfaces against relative movement on each other and unite the two last parts into a solid last.

LOUIS W. REINHARDT. (35 

